What Causes Dark Spots?

by Elizabeth Sanders

In this article we’re going to talk about all the causes of dark spots (also known as hyperpigmentation) on the skin. Having them is not a pretty sight for you, neither for your loved ones or your colleagues.

Skin Diseases

In case you didn’t know, dark spots can be cause by certain skin infection types, as well as acne. Hormones can shift drastically during the time of pregnancy, which ultimately causes melasma.

There’s a specific type of a cause for dark spots: inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The dark spots will burst out after there has been a period of trauma for the skin itself. I’m talking specifically about acne problems. If you had acne problems in your youth, there’s a good chance that your skin will develop dark spots in your mid 50s as well.

Some of the other known disease and conditions which produce dark spots are also Riehl’s melanosis, Linea Fusca, Poikiloderma of Civatte and Erythromelanosis follicularis.

Most of these skin conditions need a special treatment, but I’ve been able to solve my melasma problem by using a cream which is called Night Skin. It’s a cream that you apply over night for a few weeks. I got some pretty good results, as most of the dark spots on my cheeks have completely disappeared.

Medications

Yes, there are even some medications which are responsible for the outburst of dark spots. Essentially, the worst ones are the hormone pills that you eat when you are pregnant. Why? Because they will alter the hormone level in your body, and this is a known cause for many types of skin conditions (acne and blackheads as well).

Tetracyclines in antibiotics are a known substance that damages the skin. Some doctors say that this is the number one cause of dark spots in the world.

Estrogens are actually the hormones which are used as a hormone therapy and a contraceptive for women. They are also known for causing dark spots and all kinds of skin damage.

Sulfonamides are used for fighting the bacteria. They are also a cause of dark spots. In some cases, it can be a lethal substance, since there are patients out there who were diagnosed with Stevens–Johnson syndrome after using one of the medications in the sulfonamide group.

Keep in mind that these medications sensitize the skin to the sun, while others cause skin damage without the sun. some other medications known for causing problems with the skin are Amiodarone, Phenytoin and Phenothiazines.

Genetic Traits

You know, some people inherit dark spots as birth marks. The technical term for this type of a condition is “Naevi“. They range from reddish hue all the way down to dark brown.

Dark spots can be inherited as birth marks. The spots are technically considered skin lesions also termed “Naevi.” These dark spots are slightly raised on the skin and can range in color from dark brown to a reddish hue.

Sunlight

Finally, probably the most common cause of a dark spot is the ultraviolet light from the sun. If you’re exposed to it all the time, you can be pretty much sure that your skin is going to be damaged permanently over time. Besides ephelides and freckles, the UV light will also cause the dark spots.

The problem here is that it will also cause the existing ones to grow.

Conclusion

Now you know what the top 4 major causes of dark spots are. Keep in mind that you can treat most of them, but the treatment is often times painful and long. The only solution that has worked for me and my daughter (I’m a mom of 3 kids) is a cream called Dr. Perry’s Night Skin.